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Team Canada wary of falling into Slovakia’s trap

Head coach Steve Spott speaks to reporters during a news conference naming the team at the National Juniors selection camp in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012. The Canadian junior men's hockey team had the best 19-year-old talent in the country available to it because of the NHL lockout, but a pair of 17-year-old forwards were named to the squad Thursday.Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Russia – If there is one concern gnawing at Canadian head coach Steve Spott as he readies his team for their next challenge, it’s the trapping style of the Slovaks.

Canada, coming off a 9-3 victory over Germany, meets Slovakia on Friday. In their first game of the world junior hockey championships, Slovakia was edged 3-2 by Russia in overtime.

“They play that one-four and they don’t cross centre unless they’ve got an opportunity to attack,” said Spott after Thursday’s practice. “We’re really going to have to manage the puck well, not turn it over, and make sure we get it in deep because they very rarely will chase you in behind your own net.”

During the pre-game session, one of the areas that received attention was shot blocking. Spott said that they can’t lose sight of how Canadian hockey players play.

“As much skill as we have we have to be prepared to block shots and do some of those dirty things to be successful,” Spott continued. “We’re just trying to get them in the right mindset. We scored a lot of goals last night but we don’t want to lose focus of the type of team that we are.”

Malcolm Subban will get the start in net for Canada and the Belleville Bulls goaltender knows all too well that the job is now his to lose.

He said he is certain he’ll get off to a surer start against Slovakia.

“I think I’ll be more comfortable, just because I got that first game in,” Subban said. “and I’m really going to try and feed off that third period and bring that into the game. That will be the most important thing for me.

“Just knowing the coaches have the confidence in me, that I’m going to play all the games, helps a lot as well. I’m just looking forward to having a good performance tomorrow.”

Subban saw 28 shots in the game against Germany and shut the door in the third, most notably with a cross-crease save that allowed Canada to sustain the momentum.

Goaltending coach Ron Tugnutt, who had a chat with Subban during the second intermission, said the netminder has to reduce the number of soft goals that he allows.

“That’s something he has to take care of. For him, it’s continually talking to him about being focussed,” said Tugnutt. “I said from start to fnish you need to be focused. We worked on some stuff today (but) in yesterday’s game, he was the same as the rest of the team. There are areas where we need to improve. The idea is to better as the tournament goes on.”

“Malcolm’s play is going to dictate how far he goes,” said Spott, “but right now, he’s the guy we’re going to continue to run with.”

Jenner on another collision course
Near the end of practice on Thursday, Boone Jenner and Xavier Ouellet collided in the neutral zone. Both were slow to get up but Spott reported that both were okay.

“I just went and checked on them,” said Spott.

Jenner, who will miss his second game when Canada plays Slovakia, returns from his suspension on New Year’s Eve.

An armed escort
A snowstorm that blew through Ufa Wednesday night left the streets under a foot of snow and consquently, left a few Canadian journalists stranded at the hotel the following morning.

Unable to secure a cab, an undercover police officer, stationed in the lobby, offered to take us to the rink for the Canadian practice.

As we piled into the Mazda, which was coated with a distinctly different finish (armoured perhaps?), there was a silver service revolver and a thermos laying in the back seat, the former of which ended up in the hands of a trepidatious Terry Koshan. The Toronto Sun scribe carefully handed the weapon over to the officer, who casually tucked it into the side pocket of the driver’s door.